A PROJECT to help people fight food poverty has been hailed a huge success.

Julie Hilling, the MP for Bolton West, visited Moss Bank Park to see community project The Hive, which is run by Lancashire Wildlife Trust, and has been teaching residents how to grow and cook their own food for almost a year.

Ms Hilling met project officers Charlie Barlow and Charlotte Yates, who gave her a tour of the vegetable patches, fruit trees, sensory garden and children’s area.

She applauded the job the trust has done transforming the land.

Ms Hilling said: “With the continued rising cost of living it’s excellent to see Lancashire Wildlife Trust’s work being put into practice.

“The group has worked to transform a field into great gardens in such a small period of time, including a garden that families will be able to rent out for a barbeque.”

Ms Barlow said she was pleased to show the MP how the site is expanding to cope with growing demand.

She added: “Our staff have worked really hard to develop food growing events, training and activities with some of the most hard-to-reach residents. We have tried to reach individuals in deprived areas who are recognised as living in food poverty.”